The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-16
A MIDNIGHT MURDER.
ANOTHER CRIME ADDED TO THE
LIST OF MYSTERIES.
A Negro Farmer Found Dead on the
Street--Drinking in Bad Company-A
Drunken Woman's Testimony-prob-
ably Whisky Quarrel.

ABLY WHISKY quarrel.
Vile curses, scufle, followed by a
heavy blow and the rapid footsteps Of two
men making fast time from the scene,
aroused Mrs. Mcmahon, an elderly lady
who lives on the second floor OF tenc-
mcnt-house at Commerce and Center al.
ley, about IL O'Clock last night. Hast
lily raising her window, she saw
two men running with all their speed
| south, while on The brick pavement below
| the window lay n man prone on his back,
moaning and bleeding his life away from a
deep wound which had crushed the rear
of his skull. The old lady quickly gave an
alarm, and the negroes in the rear of the
tenement were at the dying mans
| side in few moments. He was
| q stranger to them, and being
| speeches. no statement could be
| gotten from him. The man died in about
! twenty minutes. Scrgt. Iicdrick and
several other officers promptly repaired TO
! the scene. Justice Gutenberg was sum-
moned to hold the inquest, and search be-
! gan in the neighborhood for some one who
could unravcl the bloody midnight mys-
| terry. A negro named Vim. Lovin was
found standing at the corner Of Commerce
and Front, and stated that he knew the
dead man, and his name was David
Anderson, negro farmer who lived near
Millington. this county, and rented land
from Squire Reynolds. He had been
with him in the early part OF the night
Anderson had, or seemed TO have, plenty
OF money, and together they took several
drinks, but that they separated an hour
or two before On Front street, not far from
where the murder was committed. Tho
negro Loyin evidently knows good deal
more about the murder than he would tell
last night and grew insultngly doggish
when closely questioned By one vi the
/ jury OF inquest.
Sergeant ledrick came up about the
time loyn had finished his story. with a
negro woman, Lizzie Springer, whom he
found on Front, about square from the
murder, talking very loud about the fight
! she had seen. The woman was about two
thirds drunk, and has n very unsavory
reputation. Her story was t~ the
effect that she, Anderson and two
other negroes, Vim. Tuylor and Charley
Fox, both gamblers, had been drinking in
the saloon OF VIM. Jones, Il white man,
who keeps low dive at No. 90 Front
| ~liNfis AUNfl~iNl liN'l llpntNs UfhltN lltT
90 the beer and the others also. The men
were discussing prize tights, and Jones said
! 10 Anderson that he would bet him S25
that Taylor could whip him. Jones put
nj the money. and the men started down
10 the nayy.yard to have the fight.
She followed them for q short distance,
when they suddenly stopped. Anderson
refusing 70 20 further Turning around
they came back mp 10 the corner OF the
alley where Anderson was found.
She left them quauclng. A few
minutes afierwam. when she had
reached saloon on Whisky Chute, shc
heard men running mp the alley. Taylor
and Fox came IN the saloon aud she asked
TAYLOR what WIS the matter, md he said,
THAT'S all right; fixed him. ] got my
gentleman this time She said both
men, after talking for few
seconds left hut which way they went
she did not know. The vile witch's mind
was ~ bcfudilrd With whisky that her re-
marks were scarcely ineligible. The
man Jones claimed not 10 know anything
about the matter, bu, insisted that the
statements of the Springer woman should
not be believed. ~ she was drunk.
Mrs. Mcmahon i not certain, hut
thought ~ she was awakened she heard a
shot fired, and the Springer woman in
sisted that she also heard shot from tho
vicinity. There was no physician present
and the jury of inquest was not satisfied
~ 81 what kind Of an instrument the man
had been stricken his death wound. and
reserved their verdict until 10 o'clock this
| morning.
From the appearance 81 the wound Il is
not from a shot bat from blow with
either q brick on some heavy blunt weapon.
| There wcp no other marks Of violence.
hut from the fact that an open knife was
found lying beside the dead man, lac had
evidently attempted resistance. though tho
knife showed no signs Of having been
used in the fray. In one Of his coat pock-
cts was a receipt from y. W. Sheriff. tho
cotton factor, for two bales OF cot.
ton sold Yesterday. Anderson had
no money in his pocket, and NJ the wit.
ncsscs who had been with him stated hs
had money the decd must have lccn com.
mittcd Tor the purpose OF robbery. The
negro was toiruhly well clothed, Ut
medium size and apparently about thirty
| ycar old. aud leaves wife and several
children The police put the negro, VIM.
loyin. and Lizzie Springer under arrest 10
bc held ~ witnesses. An hour later they
also arrested Lawrence Payne, colorcd On
suspicion OF lring one Of the perpetrators
Of the deed. hat PAYNE denies any knuwl.
edge Of 70. Search was being made Tor
Taylur aud Fox. and ~ both nrC well
known 10 the police their arrest is likely 10
tI.ll.w. lac fURftttuW